South Carolina’s Ray Tanner Gets Contract Extension

Four trips to the College World Series netted Ray Tanner college baseball’s ultimate prize – a national championship. Now that title has given the South Carolina head coach another reward – a big contract extension.

Ray Tanner

The University of South Carolina’s Board of Regents on Friday approved a five-year contract extension for Tanner that will run through the 2015 season and pay him $510,000 a year.

“I am very fortunate to have a great coaching staff, outstanding student-athletes and one of the best facilities in all of college baseball with the most loyal fans,” Tanner said in an athletic department release. “The University of South Carolina is very special to my family and I. We look forward to future success in years to come.”

The upcoming 2011 season will be Tanner’s 15th at the helm in Columbia and his 24th overall as a head coach.

The Gamecocks have the longest current active streak of NCAA Regional appearances among SEC schools with 11. They advanced to Super Regionals eight times in that span, with trips to the College World Series in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2010.

Tanner’s 11-year record of 522-217 is the fourth highest in Division One in that span. The Gamecocks have won at least 40 games in each of those seasons. Tanner’s 14-year record at South Carolina is 634-282 (.692), which is the second highest in SEC history.